Cullerton says he'll revive 'fumigation' bill after Quinn decides not to fire U of I trustees

Wednesday

Aug 26, 2009 at 12:01 AMAug 26, 2009 at 8:13 AM

Gov. Pat Quinn's refusal to fire two University of Illinois trustees could revive a so-called fumigation bill aimed at hundreds of state workers.

Ryan Keith

Gov. Pat Quinn's refusal to fire two University of Illinois trustees could revive a so-called fumigation bill aimed at hundreds of state workers.

At a news conference Wednesday in Chicago, Quinn announced two replacements to the university board but said he would not fire two other trustees who have refused to heed his calls to step down.

Quinn is trying to clear out the board after a scandal over clout in the admissions process at the school, and seven trustees voluntarily resigned. The governor said he didn't want to wage a lengthy, costly court battle with the final two and instead wanted to focus on reforming the board.

A spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton said after Quinn's announcement that the president plans to call Senate Bill 1333 for a vote in the legislature's October veto session.

That measure, pushed through the House by Speaker Michael Madigan, would fire about 750 workers appointed to their jobs by former Govs. Rod Blagojevich and George Ryan. Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said that while the bill was not aimed at them, it would cover U of I trustees James Montgomery and Frances Carroll.

But that could be a difficult task. The measure passed the House without opposition but stalled in the Senate in the final hours of the spring legislative session in May. It now needs a supermajority of 36 votes to pass.

"Based on various caucus differences in the spring, I would say that there are no guarantees that the legislation will pass," Phelon said. "Nevertheless, it will be called for a vote."

A spokesman for Quinn, who supported the measure in the spring, said the governor hasn't decided if that route should be taken in this case.

"While the governor is aware that this is an option, he has not taken a position on this possibility," Quinn spokesman Bob Reed said.

The "fumigation" bill originally targeted more than 3,000 state workers when Madigan proposed it, aiming to send a strong message to Quinn that he wasn't moving fast enough to clear house after Blagojevich's impeachment and removal from office.

But it later was narrowed to cover workers appointed by the two ex-governors to jobs or positions that don't have protection through state law and court rulings from political hiring or firing. That includes appointees to university boards and other boards and commissions.

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